In a span of two weeks, Midland High has seen its District 3-5A title hopes dissipate before its very eyes. Now, the Bulldogs find themselves in a scramble to just qualify for the postseason.

Midland High lost its second straight game to open district play Friday night, falling 31-24 to Odessa High at Grande Communications Stadium. The loss puts Midland High (5-2, 0-2 in District 3-5A) in a dire situation next week on the road against Abilene High, and for the rest of district play as well.

For a second straight week, Midland High spotted its opponent a 14-0 lead before it was able to mount a response. Odessa High opened the game with a 17-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by a 5-yard run by senior quarterback Johnny Campos.

After Midland High went three-and-out, the Bronchos marched on a nine-play, 79-yard drive with senior running back Ivan Subia scoring from 3 yards out, giving OHS a 14-0 advantage.

While the slow start issues that have plagued Midland High all season seemed to be showing up once again, Yenzer says it was more a matter of Odessa High coming out strong and keeping the ball out of the Bulldogs’ hands.

“Right now we’re having a tough time slowing people down,” Yenzer said. “We’re not playing very well. I don’t think it had so much to do with a slow start. You have to give Odessa High credit. Campos and Subia were great. Offensively, we didn’t make the plays we needed to make. They played to win, got the win in the fourth quarter and did a good job with it.”

The Bulldogs answered back on their second drive of the game as they allowed their big offensive line to take over and lead the way on an eight-play, 66-yard drive, pulling them within 14-7. All but eight of the Bulldogs’ yards on that drive came via the run game with Culp capping the drive with a 4-yard TD run.

After a 33-yard field goal by OHS kicker Kevin Galindo, the Bulldogs took to the ground again with a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Jacoby Webster, who finished with 196 rushing yards, scored from 18 yards out with 4:15 to play in the first half.

Midland High scored 11 straight points to open the second half with Jake Forrester hitting a 32-yard field goal and Webster scoring his second TD of the night courtesy of an 8-yard run with 1:05 left in the third quarter. Culp hit senior receiver Boo McCoy for the 2-point conversion and Midland High had its first, and what turned out to be its only lead, of the game 24-17.

But it was all Campos from there. The Bronchos scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter with the Bronchos senior QB accounting for both TDs. Campos tied the game with nine minutes left to play on a 16-yard scamper, breaking the tackles of two Bulldogs at the 2-yard line before fighting into the end zone.

He then rolled out to his right and found Erick Gavaldon open inside the 10. Campos hit Gavaldon, who then managed to remain inbounds as he ran down the sideline and into the end zone for the game-winning score.

Midland High had one last chance to tie the score and marched the ball down to the Odessa High 25 with 14 seconds left to play. On the final play of the game, Culp launched a prayer intended for his favorite target Donavon Lee in the end zone. Odessa High senior safety Ramon Ochoa jumped in front of Lee to pick of the pass and cement the victory.

“With the way our season has been going, our kids have never lost the faith,” OHS coach Ron King said. “They’ve kept fighting. They showed a lot of heart and desire out there (Friday). They’ve been down before and they continue to fight. We’ve been in a lot of close games this season. We just kept competing, fought Midland High tooth and nail and were lucky enough to come away with a win.”